the weekly pencil.

I'm not a planner person. I mean I try as hard as I can to keep up with writing everything down, but I often forget to keep up or don't want to carry around a planner book. These pocket planners from Baron Fig might be the solution to my flakiness when it comes to keeping up with planners. At first glance, I am immediately drawn to the bright colors of these books and the super clean graphic design. I am a sucker for both, so picking these up is not a task for me. Each book has a 16-week dateless spread and in the back there is a two-page spread for lists or undated info and then a few pages of dot grid for jotting down notes. I really like the flexibility of these planners.

They can be used for almost anything-- daily task lists, planning, or even short form journaling. There are four books in this set-- one for each season and they are priced at $14 a pack which is beyond reasonable. I am not sure if they will be a regular offering from Baron Fig (they should be!), but I'd pick up a few sets of these. The possibilities are endless.

It's time again for an Archer release from Baron Fig and this time we are graced with the presence of Elements. This design is a collaboration between Caroline Weaver and Baron Fig. Quite frankly I was waiting for this to happen and while the design is great, there are a few misses. In addition to my review, I sat down with Caroline to discuss a few things. Let's get to that first:

Me: What made you want to collaborate with Baron Fig?

Caroline: BF actually approached me about doing a pencil! I've known Joey and Adam since I first opened the shop since they're also in NYC and I love the products that they make. When they asked me to do a pencil with them I didn't think twice about it.

Me: Tell me a little bit about that process (designing, how much input you had, etc.)

Caroline: I worked through the concept with Baron Fig, they designed it and I approved it--it was all very easy because they did a great job capturing what I was going for. A big part of what I do in my job is educate people about pencils, so I thought this was a good opportunity to throw a little lesson into the actual design of the pencil. It was all collaborative, but I'm grateful that they trusted my opinion and my ideas. I can't really take any credit for the actual design--that's all them!

Caroline: Oh man! I don't even know. For years I was saying it was a double ended graphite/red pencil but then we made the Editor, so that exists now. BUT if I could really have anything, it would probably be Try-Rex shaped, with a good cedar barrel, the core of Mono 100 in F, an elaborate early 1900s-esque brass ferrule, a Matomaru-Kun eraser on the end and vertical stripes in burgundy and a nice red-orange.

Me: Are there any other CW collaborations in the works?

Caroline: Yes! Before the end of the year we'll release 3 more new products that we've been working on making with three different brands.

I want to thank Caroline for her time and willingness to participate. Also-- it's super exciting to know that there are not one, not two, but THREE CW collaborations coming soon! Now let's get to the meat and potatoes-- the review.

As a fan of bright colors, I wasn't wowed by the Elements Archer at first. That's my own subjective bias, so it's not a fault with the pencil, but muted colors are not for me. What I DID love were the symbols for each element of what goes into your average pencil. What was weird though is one of those symbols is for foil and this pencil has none. I get why that was used-- most pencils have foil imprinting, but this one doesn't and to the uninitiated pencil fanatic, they might be left feeling confused. One final aesthetic observation was the consistency of the finish on the pencils. This is not a problem with Baron Fig, but more of a problem with Viarco's quality control. When evenly lined up, some pencils either had a "wavy" transition between two colors or were dipped higher or lower (see picture below). I feel like I'm being a bit nitpicky here, but it's not fair to Baron Fig for Viarco to have so many issues with delivering a perfect product.

The way the Elements pencil writes is consistent with the other limited edition Archers I have reviewed in the past. The graphite is a bit harder than I like, but it seems to me like this batch has less imperfections re: grittiness than other Archers I have used. I sharpened up three different pencils and they all performed the same. I will say that a toothier paper is better to use with these pencils since the harder graphite feels as though it is "biting" into smoother paper at times. With all of this being said, I still like the Element. I'm a big fan of minimalist design and while the color scheme is not my cup of tea, the muted pink and slate gray work well together. Also, the iconography is brilliant and really like how it tells the complete story of how a pencil is constructed. One thing Baron Fig really has going for them is design and I have yet to encounter a product that is way off the mark from them (Okay, the mousepad was bit off there. Haha). You can pick them up here while they last!

***I received these pencils free of charge in exchange for a review. My opinions are mine and have not been influenced at all by free stuff.***

Most readers are probably familiar with USA Gold pencils. Branded as "America's Pencil", the USA Gold's packaging is emblazoned with the American flag and "Made in USA" in as many places as possible. The history of manufacturing of the USA Gold pencils is complicated, so I'll try to break it down for you (thanks to "WoodChuck", who I suspect is Charles Berolzheimer, for this history of the USA Gold): Originally, the USA Gold was introduced by RoseArt as a competitor to Ticonderoga and Mirado pencils and was made of incense cedar. USA Golds were much cheaper than their competitor and RoseArt used this tactic to gain market share and popularity. Because of this reduced cost, the cedar used was often much lower grade and the graphite used was imported from China. In 2003, RoseArt purchased J.R. Moon and claimed to be the second largest pencil company in the US. Two years later in 2005, Mega Brands acquired RoseArt. I suspect that the USA Gold is manufactured in the old J.R. Moon pencil factory as Mega Brands has stated that their pencils are manufactured in Lewisburg, TN-- the location of the original J.R. Moon factory. ANYHOW, enough of that history lesson. Let's get to the review.

The USA Gold pencil is instantly recognizable-- it has bright blue foil stamping that declares it is America's Pencil (I find that silly, but hey, branding-- if it works, it works). The finish is sloppy and I suspect it only has one or two coats of lacquer as you can see the wood grain and the seam in the slats pretty clearly through the paint. The ferrule is actually not that bad-- it has that old tin can look with a thick blue band in the middle. The eraser is pink and while functional, wears down pretty quickly. I prefer to leave my eraser unused and use a block style eraser to do the erasing. Performance is okay. For a budget pencil it works-- it is as dark as an HB grade leaning slightly towards 2B. Writing with the pencil offers a tactile experience as the graphite is a bit scratchy at times. For the price and performance, these pencils are worth their cost, but you can find much better performance out of even cheaper pencils at Walmart (see Pen+Gear neons). I paid 98 cents for an eight pack which puts them at about 12 cents a pencil.

The USA Titanium is a new offering from Mega Brands and is touted as "High Quality" and the packaging asserts that the pencils have durable lead and long-lasting erasers. LIES! First glance at the USA Titanium is underwhelming. The finish on the pencil is a bland pencil yellow and a tad lighter than the USA Gold. The Titanium definitely has only one coat of lacquer as you can clearly see the wood grain underneath. Equally as underwhelming is the silver ferrule at the top of the pencil. It does not have any of the detail of a classic ferrule and is largely smooth with two thick black bands at the top and bottom. The box of 36 USA Titanium pencils I purchased had a few pencils that were unacceptably defective and for a pencil that is "High Quality" this is disappointing. The graphite is a bit smoother and darker than the USA Gold so that is a bonus for me as I like a darker pencil. I'd say that the graphite it lays down is on the darker side of 2B. The eraser on this pencil is GARBAGE and actually leaves pink streaks on the paper. I though that the erasers on both the Gold and Titanium would be the same, but they are not. They both wear down pretty quickly and leave similar amounts of dust, but the Titanium eraser seems like it has something else added to it to make it feel more gummy. I also just could have gotten a bad batch. This is not really okay since I paid a bit more for the "better" pencils. I paid $5.47 for 36 pencils which put the USA Titanium at 15 cents a piece.

Overall, if you were to choose between the two pencils, I'd pick up the USA Golds. I am not sure why the Titaniums were so bad for me and don't get how they are pushed as a better option when they clearly are not. Both pencils can be found in your local Walmart.

It seems as though Back to School (BTS) season gets pushed further and further forward and this year is no exception. My local stores already set up their back to school promo areas the first week of July. I am in no way complaining here, but just like seasonal holidays, we are losing the distinct boundaries between "summer break" and back to school. This BTS season is also bittersweet as it is the first time in four years I, myself, do not have to purchase anything for a new semester. Anyhow, you're not here for my emotional diatribe, you are here for a review. So let's have at it:

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know my favorite pencil is the neon Casemate (Which is now called Pen + Gear). I cannot say enough about this pencil-- it writes beautifully, is vibrantly colored, and is super cheap. In an earlier review, I had come to the conclusion that these Made in India pencils are factory seconds of Nataraj neons. There are two versions of the Pen + Gear neons: Made in India and Made in the Philippines. The ones made in the Philippines have a round barrel and write terribly-- do not buy. This year, however, I noticed a pack of hexagonal neons and became incredibly excited because there was an additional color in the dozen: purple. I flipped over the package and groaned-- Made in the Philippines. Something made me want to buy these though and for 97 cents I figured if they still sucked, it wouldn't matter too much. After sharpening and using one for a bit, I discovered something: they are no neon Casemates, but they aren't horrible either.

At first glance, there are some distinct differences in the fit and finish of the Made in Philippines version. First, the paint on the barrel is super glossy whereas the paint on the Made in India version is more of a matte finish. Also, while the Made in Philippines version feels about the same weight-wise, the wood used is much more dense (if that makes sense). It is a lighter wood that is very soft and a bit fuzzy after sharpening with certain sharpeners, so I suspect it is either basswood or ash. When dropping the pencil, there is no "pencil sound" like other pencils make and it doesn't bounce much. The ferrule, eraser, and imprint are identical to the Made in India version. Writing with the Made in Philippines pencil is a bit different than the India version. The Philippines pencil is a bit scratchier than the India pencil, but lays down the same dark lines as the India version. I am wondering if it is the wood that leaves me feeling as though it is scratchier than the Indian pencil and not the actual graphite itself. One other aspect of the Philippines pencil I noticed was the fact that it had a very strong smell after sharpening it. I am not sure where that smell would be coming from, but I suspect it is perhaps the way they treated the wood or the actual finish on the pencil. Either way, I don't like it. Luckily the smell fades after a while so it's not horrific. While I do not completely recommend these Made in Philippines hex neon pencils over the Made in India ones, they are not garbage as previously stated. The round Made in Philippines pencils *are* still junk and are to be avoided at all costs.

I'm a creature of habit and don't often stray from products I enjoy using. If I find a bag, pencil case, sharpener, eraser, etc. that I like, I forever use it. I'd say one of my faults is not straying from things I love, so that's why when I got an email from Galen Leather about reviewing their products, I was inspired to step outside my box of stationery accessory monogamy and try something new. Before I get to the good stuff, let's talk about Galen Leather as a company. Like most reviews I do, I start by reading over a manufacturer's website to get all necessary details about the products I write about. Galen Leather's story is not only amazing, it's deeply inspiring. The owner of the company, Zeynep, was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and lost the ability to talk for a year. Because of this, she had to leave her career and find something new to pursue since she was unable to communicate verbally. That's when Galen Leather was born. I won't take up much space getting into the details, but you should read about it here. It's worth it.

Okay. So the two products I am going to review today are the Student Leather pencil case and the XLarge Zipper pencil case. Galen Leather's products are packaged beautifully. The sturdy kraft boxes have a nice black stamp on the surface with the company's logo. Inside each product is a care card and a small evil eye charm with a strange, yet fascinating story about the origins of the evil eye. Anyhow, A++ on presentation and packaging.

First up is the Student Leather case. This pencil case looks great-- it is made of vegetable tanned leather and features brass hardware with an unlined interior. The design is simple and is made of a single piece of leather. I will say the leather is a bit stiff, but this will change once you use it a bunch of times. Included with all of their products is a care card which will give you advice on how to take care of your leather. All edges on their products are burnished which gives them a nice clean, finished look. The Student Leather case can fit 18 pencils, unsharpened Blackwings, and its slim profile makes it easy to slide into a bag or purse. I will say that undoing the clasps at first is a bit difficult-- this is due the the stiffness of the leather and will get easier over time. What I would suggest is to open and close the case several times to work the holes in the leather a bit.

The other case I am reviewing is the XLarge case. This case is a classically styled zipper case with a YKK zipper, a leather zipper pull, and a lined interior-- it definitely lives up to it's name-- it's HUGE! This case can fit 48 or so pencils and will fit an unsharpened Blackwing sideways. It's not ideal, but it works. Again, the leather is a bit stiff and the design of the case is such that it is slightly triangular so it stands up on it own. This makes it a bit bulky for a bag, but not so much that one wouldn't want to carry it. As I use this case more and oil the leather, I predict it will become a lot more pliable and less bulky feeling. This case would be good for not only pencils, but accessories like erasers, sharpeners, and highlighters since it is quite deep. The zipper is smooth as butter and the hand-stitching is on point. I'd recommend this case wholeheartedly.

I unequivocally recommend anything by Galen Leather. The quality of their products is outstanding and their customer service is wonderful (I had communicated several times with the owner and she was responsive and informative each time). Their items ship from Turkey, but I got them quick-- it took a little over a week for my stuff to arrive via UPS. I did not have to sign for the package and it was left at my doorstep which was a bonus since I hate going down to FedEx or UPS to sign for something.

***I was provided these items free of charge from Galen Leather. My reviews of both products were in no way influenced by free stuff and are completely my own.***

Gaming, like storytelling, is never-ending. No matter how many games we create or tales we tell, we can always conjure up others. It was this sense of limitlessness that first drew me to The Infinite Board Game, edited and curated by W. Eric Martin. It’s a 56-piece game set based on a public-domain piecepack system, created by game designer James Kyle in 2000. Like a deck of cards, piecepack components can be used, theoretically, for an infinite number of games. Kyle originally created a dozen, and since then over 150 games have been designed.

The Infinite Board Game’s version of the piecepack system comes with high-quality plastic components – tiles, pawns, coins, and dice – as well as a book called The Infinite Board Game: An Illustrated Guide to 50 of the Best Piecepack Games. Twelve of the games in the book are solo-only, and a number of others have a solo variant. I started out playing Fuji-san, one of Kyle’s original piecepack solo games. Here’s how the book tells the story of the game: “Four Shinto priests have traveled from their various prefectures in pilgrimage to the top of Mount Fuji. You must find pathways for them to move up and down the mountain until they can reach the summit.”

It’s an engaging game that involves creating a mountain out of tiles, placing numbered coins, and moving the pawns to numbers that correspond with the number of spaces they have to cross. The goal is to get all of the priests to the top of the mountain. It takes a few minutes to play, and each time I’ve won. There’s also a more challenging “Country Road” variation, in which you move the priests back down the mountain. I’ve also played a few other games described in the book, including “Piece Gaps,” “Landlocked,” and “Piecepack Klondike.” Each of these is fun and relatively simple. I’m still working my way up to some of the longer, more challenging ones.

Many of the games have a minimalist theme or story accompanying them, along with illustrations. Mostly, though, they have relatively spare, bare-bones rules, leaving any theme or meaning up to the inventiveness of players. It’s a fascinating system, because though the games might seem elementary, in fact many of their mechanics are the same as those used in much more complicated and heavily-themed games. The transparent and skeletal nature of the piecepack system is a good way to understand and think through fundamental goals, strategies, and design principles.

I’m planning to play through all the soloable games in the book, and then I just might use the system to try my hand at designing a game or two of my own. There’s no limit, after all, to what you can do when you combine tiles, dice, coins, and pawns with a little imagination. And maybe I’ll even find myself starting to tell the story of what really happens when four priests wind their way through pine trees to the top of a snowy mountain.

______________

Vivian Wagner lives in New Concord, Ohio, where she teaches English at Muskingum University. She’s the author of Fiddle: One Woman, Four Strings, and 8,000 Miles of Music (Citadel-Kensington), The Village (Kelsay Books), and Making (Origami Poems Project). Visit her website at www.vivianwagner.net.

This isn't my first rodeo reviewing a Baron Fig Limited Edition Squire, but it is my first time reviewing one that is just so damn amazing. This iteration of the LE Squire, Mysterium, is all about science and space. Specifically, what is out there? What have we yet to discover in the great expanse that is outer space? Baron Fig has been known for its creativity and thinking outside of the box approach with most of its limited editions, but this one is extra special as one of my stationery pals, author, blogger, and podcaster, Harry Marks, wrote a short story that accompanies the pen. Marks' writing is exquisite and I haven't been moved by a short story like that in so long. I am left wanting more-- it's fiction that speaks truths. If you don't buy the pen, read the story at least.

So the pen: it's beautiful! It has a nice warm, orange color that almost seems to give off a glow when the light hits it just right. Etched into the barrel near the top is a 20-sided icosahedron (for nerds, that's a d20). I know that this edition was more of a nod towards science and space, but man does it work for us RPG nerds out there. Again, Baron Fig hits it out of the park with this edition. I'd pick up one before they sell out-- which will probably be soon since there are SO MANY of us nerds out there. One thing I recommend with this pen is the leather pen sheath. While the twisting mechanism is great, it has often engaged while in my pocket which led to disastrous results.

**Baron Fig provided this pen free of charge in exchange for a review. My opinions are my own and in now way influenced by free stuff.**

It's not often I audibly gasp when I get an email from Baron Fig about their latest offering. Never have I thought that a notebook could embody all of the things I love in this world. Bright colors, whimsical artwork reminiscent of the early nineties, and geek culture. Computerworld offers all of these things and much more. First, let's talk about the concept itself. Computerworld is a Baron Fig collaboration with Codeacademy, a company that offers a unique, online technical learning experience for those that want to learn to code. The Computerworld Vanguards are designed with the coder in mind-- pages are "code ruled" and have numbered rules and bullets which are perfect for writing lines of code or lists. The first thing that came to mind when I flipped through the pages was that these could serve as a good framework for a bullet journal.

Each notebook in the collection in the series has a different cover design and the artwork is an imagined representation of what the three main parts of technology-- hardware, software, and data-- would look like. Baron Fig always goes all in on theme and design, so this Vanguard edition is seeping with subtle references to technology. The box for this set is also great with a cover that shows all three themes weaved together. There is a really cool sticker sheet that comes in the box as well as a pamphlet that talks a bit about the current theme.

The more I stare at the different covers of the books, the more I see. I guess that's what I like so much about this edition aside from it's unique inside page design-- the covers make me happy. One can escape into a fantastical world of technology where unicorns abound, and really, what's better than that?

***I was provided these notebooks free of charge from Baron Fig, but this review was in no way influenced by the generous offering of a review copy. My opinions are my own***

I feel like it has been an eternity since I have posted a review (actually it has, my last post was in January). As some of you know, I've been working on a thesis and a jam-packed semester, so that is the reason I have been away. I have good news though: I passed my thesis, I am graduating with a Bachelors in psychology, and the best news is that I can focus on this blog again!! I have had quite a few things I've wanted to blog about, so expect weekly releases for a while. First on my review list is the new Baron Fig Squire Click pen. Full disclosure: I received a pen free of charge from Baron Fig, but it in no way influenced my review or opinion of the pen.

Okay. So as a "mostly pencil user" pens aren't really my thing. When I write in my journal I use a pen and have been using the Baron Fig "Key" Squire (which is now sold out). I love that pen and am surprised that I do since it is so damn heavy (it's brass). On the entire opposite side of the spectrum re: weight, is the Squire Click. At a mere .7 ounces, the Squire Click feels great in hand and lessens the fatigue I usually feel with heavier pens. I also like the brushed aluminum finish of the pen-- it offers the right amount of grip, without being intrusive. Baron Fig touts four main "features" of the Squire click: it has a click top, it's ultra minimal, it has a versatile size, and it's made to last. I am going to address these four selling points and base my overall review on this framework.

Click Top: sure, the Squire Click has a click top that Baron Fig states is an "easy to use click top with a smooth motion and satisfying feel." I agree on the "easy to use" part, but to me it does not feel smooth or satisfying. First, the pen does not offer a satisfying "click" when engaging the mechanism. On top of that, it makes this scrape-like sound when pushing down the click mechanism. There is nothing wrong with the quality of the pen in this regard, but subjectively speaking, I don't like the feel of how this pen clicks. Most of us buy pens for their function and performance on paper, so this is not a deal-breaker for me. And hey, maybe my idea of satisfaction is different than yours, so there's that.

Ultra Minimal: Baron Fig nailed in on this point. Unlike other pens where there is a lot "going on" the Squire Click gets out of its own way and is sleek and simple. I would have liked to see a very small, minimalist clip, but I can always add one on myself via Tofty Design.

Versatile Size: again, kudos to Baron Fig on this one. Many, many times when I am using a pen it is either too long or too short for my liking. This is the Goldilocks of the pens I have-- it's just right. Also, the diameter of the pen is great for my small hands. It's sort of pencil-sized and I feel like I have better control while writing with the Squire Click.

Made to Last: I can't really comment on this yet since I have only had the pen for about a month. If it is in line with other Baron Fig products, I don't suspect that this statement is false. Their regular Squires have held up beautifully and have resisted many drops and other rough treatment.

Overall, if you are a pen user, the Squire Click is a purchase. The major selling point for me was the design. Its barrel is perfect for my smaller hands and the smooth, yet not too slippery feel of the barrel works well. The fig wine color I have is beautiful and goes well with my other Baron Fig products. To make this the perfect pen, I'd recommend getting a plastic clip from Tofty Design as metal would probably scrape the barrel. Thanks to the crew over at Baron Fig for providing a Squire Click for review. Again, free stuff does not influence my review whatsoever.

As a stationery blogger, I see a lot of products on a weekly and even daily basis. Very few stop me in my tracks from just the pictures I get in press releases, but Baron Fig's newest offering took my breath away. This edition of the new Confidant and Squire is perhaps Baron Fig's most thoughtful limited edition offering. The theme is so simple yet perfectly executed. The Confidant is "the lock" and the Squire is "the key." Along with the notebook there is a small pamphlet with a maze and a small poem that suggests that there is a puzzle to be solved. The Squire's cardboard tube acts as a key to decode the symbols that are printed on the maze and inside the covers of the Confidant. Again-- amazing attention to detail here. I like that a little fun was added to this edition. As far as how both the pen and notebook perform, they are both the quality to be expected of Baron Fig. I will go through each separately:

Squire

I was in love with the beauty of this brass pen, but was unsure of how I would feel about its weight. Upon weighing the Key Squire and a regular Squire, the Key weighed just over two times the weight of the regular. What's equally exciting about the brass Squire is the amazing patina that it will develop. The brass pen also pairs amazingly with the dark green Confidant and the pen's performance on the paper is great as always.

Confidant

The Lock Confidant is perhaps one of my favorite Baron Fig offerings to date. I really love the embossed maze and key on the front of it-- it really makes me think I am locking away all of my thoughts and dreams into this book. Speaking of which, I have started to use this Confidant as a journal and have been thoroughly enjoying the theme. The inside front cover is a bright white with a maze design. Interspersed are various symbols that need decoding. The paper inside is dot grid and is consistent with the paper in all of the other Confidants-- slightly toothy and perfect for the Squire. The only thing I don't like is the slight amount of ghosting that happens when writing on the page. Not sure if that will ever be fixed, but it's not a deal-breaker for me. I just wish their own pen wasn't doing the ghosting.

Overall, I think if you were ever on the fence about picking up a limited edition pairing, this is the one the pull the trigger on. The theme is there, the quality is there, and the brass Squire makes it so worth it. Head over to Baron Fig soon because I feel as though these will sell out quickly.

**I received this set free from Baron Fig, but these opinions are my own and have in no way been influenced by free stuff.**